Political problems caused by illegal nannies have surfaced in California politics before. In 1994, Rep. Michael Huffington (R) acknowledged that from 1989 until 1993 he had employed an illegal immigrant as a nanny at his home in Santa Barbara. At the time, Mr. Huffington was running against incumbent Democrat Dianne Feinstein for a Senate seat, and he was a vigorous supporter of state Proposition 187, which would have prohibited illegal residents from using health care, public education, and other government social services.
Huffington narrowly lost the race. Proposition 187 passed, but was later ruled unconstitutional by a federal court. (Huffington’s ex-wife Arianna is the media impresario behind the current “Huffington Post” website.)
